introduction

1917 profoundly altered the course of history in Russia, and around the globe. In his work Ten Days that Shook the World (the book from which this event series draws its name), American journalist John Reed chronicled the opening days of the October Revolution. We still feel the effect of those ten days today, as major questions of labor and capital, economic inequality, and democratic transition have yet to be resolved. Radical visions and radical action are still very much with us. We have much to learn from 1917 and its global ramifications. This event series, like John Reed's work, adds to a conversation that has been ongoing for the last century.

“1917: Ten days that shook the world / 2017: Ten days that shake the campus” brings together scholars from around the world, the nation, and the campus to analyze the Russian revolution of 1917 in a global context, by examining its immediate impact, elaborating its legacies, and tracing its ripples to the present day – across national boundaries and realms of human endeavor. We have ten "days" of events planned throughout the 2017 Fall Semester. Like Soviet festivals that were considered a singular day regardless of how long they actually lasted, each of our "days" is comprised of a number of activities lasting from anywhere between a single night to an entire semester.

Please join us at our ten events planned for the 2017-2018 academic year.

The photo at the top of the page is a compilation of two photos. The one on the left was taken by Ray Cunningham at a protest in front of the Alma Mater statue on the University of Illinois campus; the one on the right was taken on the "March to Smolney" following the October Revolution.